Good morning. Morning Minutes is a round-up of stories that will break today and which we think you'd be interested in. It appears on weekdays, available by 7am.
A-level exam results out today
About 14,000 students took the A-level examinations last year and will receive their results today. Find out how the cohort fared and read about the personal triumphs of those who did well despite the odds. - PEARL LEE & CALVIN YANG
Non-profit group BizLink hopes to set Singapore record on loom bands
Beneficiaries and caregivers of non-profit organisation BizLink aim to set a Singapore record today with the most number of loom bands made within an hour. The feat will be part of an event to launch its Day Activity Centre and celebrate the Chinese New Year. - ANG YI YING
SGX's new minimum trading price rule comes into effect
The Singapore Exchange's contentious new rule to set a minimum trading price (MTP) of 20 cents for mainboard-listed companies takes effect today. It is aimed at curbing speculation and market manipulation here.
Affected companies have have a year's grace until March 1, 2016 to get their six-month average share price above 20 cents.
After that, those still below that level will be placed on a watchlist for three years, during which their shares will not be eligible for investment under the Central Provident Fund Investment Scheme. The CPF announced this move, aimed at safeguarding members' CPF savings, on Feb 10.
Meanwhile, companies that fail to comply with the MTP by Feb 28, 2019 could be delisted, or have the option to transfer to the Catalist board, where there is no MTP. - GRACE LEONG
Israel leader Netanyahu in US on 'historic' mission
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in Washington today (Monday morning Singapore time) to begin a contentious visit that has soured diplomatic relations between US and Israel. He is set to make a series of speeches including an address to Congress, voicing his objections to Iran nuclear talks backed by the White House.
The multinational nuclear talks seek to limit Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for an easing of long-standing sanctions, but Israel believes that any deal will ultimately pave the way for Iran to become nuclear-armed. Mr Netanyahu said on Sunday his trip was "historic" mission to try to stop a nuclear deal with Iran. - JEREMY AU YONG
Britain's Prince William in rare royal visit to China
Britain's Prince William begins the first full day of his four-day tour of China today. It is the first visit to China by a member of the British royal family since Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip arrived in Beijing in 1986 at the invitation of then-leader Deng Xiaoping. Prince William's trip, which will take him to Beijing, Shanghai and Yunnan, is expected to further warm the relationship between the two countries, which marked the 10th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership last year. - LEE SEOK HWAI
US-South Korea kick off annual joint military drills as the North threatens war
Some 200,000 South Korean and 3,700 US troops begin today an eight-week joint war games involving air, ground and naval field manoeuvres. Exercise Foal Eagle is the latest edition of the annual drills by the United States and ally South Korea against the North Korean threat. An 11-day, largely computer-simulated joint drill, Key Resolve, will also start today. Overtures for dialogue by the two Koreas in recent months have stalled, with Pyongyang describing inter-Korean relations as "inching close to a catastrophe". A warm-up to the drills last Friday also drew a sharp rebuke from the North, with its leader Kim Jong Un telling his army to prepare for war. - LEE SEOK HWAI
Golf: Sweden's Anna Nordqvist ready to push for top-five position this season
A two-time winner last year, world No. 12 Anna Nordqvist is coming off her best year on the LPGA Tour since 2009, when she recorded her only other wins on the US-based circuit. The Swede, who is in Singapore for this week's HSBC Women's Champions, almost quit golf back in 2013 after struggling with her game but has rebounded. At 27, she is entering her peak years and is ready to push on and crack the top-five this season. - JONATHAN WONG
